How to Feed Kissing Gourami

Kissing gouramis are a peaceful species of fish that can be a joy to keep in the home aquarium. These fish display a unique "kissing" behavior by locking mouths with other fish.

Commercial Foods

Kissing gouramis are microphagous filter-feeders, which means they filter small food particles from the water in addition to eating algae growths from submerged tank surfaces. Because these fish do not have any teeth in their jaws, they cannot chew or crush large commercial foods. The ideal commercial foods for kissing gouramis are high-quality flakes because these foods soften in the water and break down easily. Small pellets are also recommended for kissing gouramis.

Live and Frozen Food

In the wild, kissing gouramis feed mainly on algae and microorganisms, so adding live and frozen foods to a commercial diet can be very beneficial. The ideal live and frozen foods for kissing gouramis are small -- bloodworms, Artemia and tubifex worms are some of the best foods for this species. Offer your kissing gouramis small amounts of live or frozen foods on a daily basis to ensure that all their nutritional needs are met.

Amount to Feed

Because kissing gouramis will constantly graze on algae growths and filter microorganisms from the water in your tank, you do not need to feed them large amounts of food at one time. In fact, overfeeding your gouramis could lead to excess waste build-up along the bottom of your tank, which could lead to a decrease in water quality. Feed your kissing gouramis only as much food as they can consume in three to five minutes and offer them food twice a day.

Feeding Tips

To ensure that your gouramis receive a healthy, balanced diet, alternate your feedings between commercial and live or frozen foods. If a large portion of your kissing gouramis' diet is made up of dried foods, make sure that some of those foods have a high proportion of vegetable matter. Flakes and wafers made from spirulina algae are a great way to add some vegetable matter to a diet for kissing gouramis. Some gouramis may even eat blanched vegetables such as romaine lettuce, peas and zucchini.

Video of the Day

References

About the Author

Katherine Barrington has written on a variety of topics, from arts and crafts to pets, health and do-it-yourself projects. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing concentration from Marietta College.